![]() ![]() ![]() We were struck by the masked man and his pet dog, Ruru, in ‘Dog Video’, finding the relationship between this man and his best friend to be particularly revealing when juxtaposed with Kim’s upbringing under South Korea’s autocratic regime. In the second room, a further three films named ‘Dog Video’, ‘Washing Brain and Corn’, and ‘Temper Clay’ play to the by now very inquisitive audience. Crytic allusions are made to a rumoured affair between an actress and a dictator, provoking questions we’re still trying to find the answers to. The smaller of the two rooms hosts ‘From the Commanding Heights’, an intriguing film that explores a story set within the renowned South Korean Hyundai apartment complex. Kim divides one of the former oil tanks into two highly atmospheric rooms ,where light and screened images bounce off mirrors, reflective material and walls, while architectural stage-sets act as platforms for four of the artist’s films. Reflective of an upbringing that was, in some senses, rootless, Kim collages an eclectic mix of encounters, sounds, sculptures and images from his changing homes of Seoul, Amsterdam and New York. ![]() We were immediately plunged into a mysterious, fantastical world of optical illusions and imagery that draws on a rich tapestry of performance and film. Sung Hwan Kim has a unique story to tell, and this womb-like, engaging space is the perfect place to unravel his past. While other exhibitions we’ve visited have directed sole focus to the work on show by providing a clean, unremarkable background, The Tanks actively enhance the artist’s offerings with their absorbing, dark interiors. Walking into the space, we were immediately struck by the creepy, almost ephemeral feel created by its exposed concrete and stark flooring. A key artist of his generation, Kim is forever crossing boundaries in the sphere of interdisciplinary video and performance art. The opening programme in the east tank includes a major new commission by South Korean artist Sung Hwan Kim. The Tanks: Art In Action festival is taking place in the unlikely setting of the gallery’s subterranean oil tanks, which used to hold five million litres of the stuff. For 15 weeks, the Tate Modern is providing artists with a magnificently raw, malleable space in which to experiment with just about anything, from live art to installations or performances. ![]()
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